Sheet glass handling apparatus



sept.5,*1939.` J.G.HAWORTH am. 2,172,199

SHEET GLASS HANDLING APPARATUS Fled'Aug. 23, 195'? Snventors Jn/V156 HA worn-L CHARLES D. Buffa/ Gttorneg .Patented Sept. 5, 1939 James G. Haworth and charles D. Burrell, Toledo, Ohio, assignoljs to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a. corporation of` Ohio Application August 23, 1937, Serialy No. $0,472

14 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to apparatus for handling sheet material and more particularly to an improved type of lifting vac uum frame.

The invention is of utility in the transferring of glass sheetsv from one location to another, especially during the grlnding,'polishin`g and subsequent handling thereof, including 'the washing, cleaning and inspection operations, although it l may obviously be employed `for many other purfrom one location to DOses in this as welll as in other arts.

'It is the primary object of this invention to provide a vacuum frame of improved construction whereby`the handling and transfer of glass sheets another may be greatly facilitated and-expedited.

Another' object of the invention is the provision o f a vacuum-frame of reversible construction in that the position of the glass sheets carried thereby canbe readily and conveniently reversed by simply turning the said frame about. la horizontal axis.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during thev course of the following description, when taken in connection with the'accompanylng drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals vare employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 shows, in elevation, a lvacuum frame vconstructed in accordance with the present invention; y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

t Fig. 3 is la sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and A Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of,- Fig. 3. I'

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing,

the vacuum frame comprises a pairl of spaced parallel arms'5 and' 8 which .are Iconnected together adjacent their opposite ends by the cross bars 'I and 8. Carried by the arms 5 and 6,-v intermediate the ends thereof, and extending` outwardly at right angles with respectthereto, are

lo Each of the arms 5, i, I I, and I2 consists, in

the tubular members l8 andy III respectively, substantially rectangular in cross section, and ca rrying at their` outer ends arms II and I2, similar to and arranged parallel with the arms 5 and i.

effect, of two sections I3- and I4 arranged in alignment with one another yand welded'or other' wise suitably secured at their inner ends to the opposite sides of the respective tubular member 9 or III which is received therebetween. 'I'he sec-v tions I3 andv I4 are hollowy or of tubularA construction, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide the chambers I5 andV I6 respectively. The chambers I5 and I`6 are' suitably closed at their outer ends, while the inner ends thereof communicate with one another by means of va pipe or opening II carried by or formed in the respective tubular member 9 or I0. The arms 5, 6, II, and I2 are each adapted to contain a supply of mercury or other suitable liquid indicated at I8 and the pipe or opening I1 is provided to permit the liquid to ow from one chamber tothe other when the vacuuml frame is turned over or reversed, the liquid serving as a counter-balance to maintain the vacuum frame normally in a substantially vertcial position.

Each of the arms 5, 6, II; and I2 is also 4provided at each end thereof with an extension I9 and carried by said extensions are the sheet holding members preferably in the form of suction devices or cups. Communicating with .the interior of each suction cup is a vacuum or suction tube 2 I, which tubes may all be conveniently connected with a conduit 22, in vturn connected `with a pipe 23 having connection with a suitable suction creating device (not shown). 'I'he suction pipe 23 may -be carried by the bail or hanger 24 for the vacuum frame, said hanger being substantially triangular and provided at its lower end with outwardly extending substantially horizontal trunnions 25 upon which are mounted the freely rotatable rollers 26.

Carried upon the inner side of each of the arms 5 and 6 isa cam member 21 having a sub- J stantially arcuate shaped, closed, internal camway 28 within which vis received the respective trunnion25 and roller 2G. As shown in Fig. fi, the rollers 26 are longitudinally, convex or, in other words, are ofthe greatest diameter ,at the centers and gradually taper toward their opposite ends, while the .inner faces of the walls of the cam-way 28 are correspondingly concave as indicated at 29. 'I'he cam-way 28 is of such shame land size asto'permit of a complete turning over or revrsalof the vacuum frame through approxlmately 180 about a horizontal axis. When this is done, the hanger 24 and trunnions/ZS remain stationary while the cams 21 are turned with the frame causing the cam-ways 28 to rideover the vrollers 26. f

yWhen'itv's desired to transfer and reverse the position of a glass sheet, the vacuum frame vis iirst moved to engage thel sheet which is shown at 30. 'I'he suction means is then operated to create a'suction within the suction cups 20 so as to desired vacuum has been set up, the frame may be raised to lift the glass sheet upwardly. The

vacuum frame may be suspended from a hook or the like 3l carried by an overhead crane and by means of said overhead crane, the glass sheet can be transferred to any desired location. During the, transfer of the sheet, the vacuum frame is maintained in a vertical position by the liquid I8 contained in the arms 5, 6, Il, and I2. In reversing the position of the sheet or, in other words, turning it over so that it faces in the opposite direction, it is simply necessary to swing the vacuum frame horizontally through 180, whereupon the cam-ways 28 will move over the rollers 26 as explained above. Simultaneously, the liquid I8 will ow from the chambers 'I li into the chambers I5 of the arms or vice versa through the pipes Il to counter-balance the frame and maintain it in reversed substantially vertical position. When the glass sheet 30 has been transferred to the desired location, the suction within the suction cups I8 is released so that the vacuum frame can be removed.

It is to be understood that the form of the in vention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a vertical hanger, and means for mounting said arms intermediate their ends upon the lower end of said hanger so that they can be turned vertically about a horizontal axis through approximately 180.

2. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger, cam means for swingably supporting said arms upon said hanger so that they can be turned vertically about a horizontal axis through approximately 180, and means for normally maintaining said arms in a substantially vertical position.

3. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger, and cam members carried by certain of said arms and engaging said hanger sov that the said arms can be turned vertically about a horizontal' axis through approximately 180.

4. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger having oppositely disposed, outwardly extending trunnions, rollers carried by said trunnions, and cam members carried by certain of said arms and supported by said trunnions so that the said arms can be turned vertically about ra horizontal axis through approximately 180.

5. In a sheet lifting frame of the character de scribed, a plurality of Asubstantially parallel-arms connected together, suction devices carried there?- by and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger provided with oppositely disposed, outwardly extending trunnions, rollers carried vby rmly attach the glass sheets thereto. After the said trunnions, and cam members having arcuate shaped, closed internal cam-ways for receiving the rollers and trunnions therein, said cam-ways riding over said rollers upon swinging of said arms about a horizontal axis.

6. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger provided with oppositely disposed, out- Wardly extending trunnions, rollers carried by said trunnions, and cam members having arcuate shaped, closed internal cam-ways for receiving the rollers and trunnions therein, said cam-ways riding over said rollers upon swinging of said arms about a horizontal axis, the said rollers being of greatest diameter at their centers and gradually tapering toward their opposite ends, While the inner faces of the walls of said camways are correspondingly concave.

'1. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected togethenrsuction devices carried through approximately 180, said arms being liollow, and a liquid contained in the said arms acting as a counter-balance to normally maintain the arms in substantially vertical position.

8. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, means for mounting said arms so that they can be turned vertically about a horizontal axis through approximately 180, said arms being hollow and each having spaced chambers communicating with one another at their inner ends, and a liquid contained in said arms acting as a counter-balance and .adapted to flow from lone chamber to another to normally maintain the said arms in a substantially vertical position.

9. In a sheet lifting frame'V of the character described, a 'plurality' ,ofjfsubstantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, l

, arms can be turned vertically about a horizontal axis through approximately 180, said arms being hollow, and a liquid contained in the said arms acting as a counter-balance to normally maintain the arms in a substantially vertical position.

10. In a sheet lifting frame of 'the character described, a plurality of substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger having oppositely disposed, outwardly extending trunnions, rollers carried by said trunnions, cam members carried by certain `of said arms and supported by said trunnions so that the said arms can be turned vertically about a horizontal axis through approximately 180, said arms being hollow and each having spaced cham- -bers communicating with one another at their inner ends',an"d a liquid contained in said arms actingasfafjcounter-balance and adapted to flow from one vchamber to another to normally maintain the said arms in a substantially vertical position.

a hanger having oppositely disposed, outwardly extending trunnions, and cam members carried by certain of said arms` and supported by said trunnions so that the said arms can be turned vertically about a horizontal axis through approximately 180 degrees.

12. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality voi.' substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger having oppositely disposed, outwardly extending trunnions, and cam members having arcuately shaped, closed internal cam-'ways for receiving the trunnions therein, said cam-ways riding over said trunnions Aupon swinging of said arms about a horizontal axis.

13. In a sheet lifting frame of the character described, a plurality of rsubstantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried 14. In a sheet lifting frame of the` character described, a plurality oi!kk substantially parallel arms connected together, suction devices carried thereby and adapted to engage and lift said sheet, a hanger having oppositely disposed, outwardly extending trunnions, and members carried by certain of said arms and lossely engaging and supported by said trunnions so that the said arms can be turned vertically about adhorizontal axis through approximately 180 degrees relative to said hanger.

JAMES G. HAWOR'I'H. CHARLES D. BURRELL. 

